Pfizer reported a problem with vaccine production – Diseases

Pfizer will produce only half of planned vaccine doses due to supply chain problems, Fox News reported.

“It took longer than expected to expand the vaccine supply chain. It is also important to emphasize that the results of clinical trials are delayed longer than originally planned,” said a company spokesman.

Pfizer and its German partner Biontech expected to produce 100 million vaccines by the end of the year, but the number of planned doses has now been halved to 50 million.

Pfizer receives raw materials from suppliers in the United States and Europe. Expanding the production of vaccine components last month proved challenging. At the moment, the company is also awaiting the results of the latest tests, says the manufacturer.

The company did not specify which components are missing for production. Vaccines generally contain materials that include antiviral agents, antiseptic fluids, sterile water, and DNA elements from the virus itself that do not cause severe symptoms but activate the immune system to produce antibodies.

Typically, companies first wait for their product approval and only then start acquiring raw materials, setting up production lines, and establishing supply chains.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Route

“In this case, it all happened at the same time. We started building supply chains in March, when the vaccine was still being developed. This is unprecedented,” said one participant in Pfizer’s vaccine development process.

Pfizer / Biontech currently plans to launch 1.3 billion vaccines in 2021, with a shortage of 50 million doses this year that will be offset by increased production.